Archive for: Political Database

Today’s political headlines include May’s thoughts on a second referendum, the Attorney General, Geoffrey Cox, telling Cabinet that May will be removed next year, the biggest package of employment reforms for a generation and Blair’s criticisms of May’s Brexit tactics. 

Another referendum would ‘break faith with British people’
The BBC reports on remarks Prime Minister Theresa May is set to make on a new referendum on Brexit. May will say that a second vote would do ‘irreparable damage’ to British politics and she does not think it would solve any problems. These remarks come after two former Prime Ministers, Tony Blair and John Major, called for a second vote if MPs cannot agree the course of action to take from here.

Attorney General told Cabinet May will be removed next year
The Telegraph reports on allegations that the Attorney General told members of the Cabinet that Theresa May must be removed from her office after Brexit. Geoffrey Cox has reportedly told others to ‘swallow’ the deal for now and renegotiate when May is gone.  It is rumoured that Cox said that May should be removed by April of next year so others can take over the process, it is also reported that this is not the first time that Cox has made such comments.

Biggest package of employment reforms for a generation
The Sun gives details of reforms around workers’ rights. These reforms could see companies that mistreat their staff fines up to £20,000. The changes that will be revealed today by Business Secretary Greg Clark, he will also reveal the companies that have shown ‘malice, spite or gross oversight’ to employees. Further reforms include closing a loophole that allowed agency workers to be employed on cheaper rates than permanent staff. This reform come after the Taylor review into modern working practices.

Blair criticises May’s Brexit tactics
The Metro reports on criticism Theresa May is facing from Tony Blair for the way in which she is attempting to get her Brexit deal through Parliament. Blair called the PM ‘irresponsible’ for the way in which she is attempting to ‘steamroller’ her deal through Parliament. This follows the former PM campaigning for a second referendum, he has also defended his own interventions saying he is within his rights to offer advice to the country.

Review into overseas patients use of the NHS kept secret
The Independent has revealed that a review that says that overseas patients are being wrongly denied NHS treatment after being told to pay up front is being kept out of the public. The review states that care is not being safety withheld when payment is not provided. Shadow Health Secretary, Jonathan Ashworth, has asked why the findings are being kept hidden.

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Today’s political headlines include May winning the vote of no confidence, the row after MPs have whip reinstated prior to the vote, May seeking backstop assurances from the EU and Javid as Conservative councillors’ favourite to be next leader.  

May wins vote of no confidence, but promises she’ll stand down before election
As The Times reports, Theresa May won the vote of confidence in her leadership by 200 votes to 117. The paper suggests that her margin of victory was less than had been hoped, with May calling for the party to now ‘come together in the national interest’. However, Jacob Rees-Mogg said that the result was ‘terrible’ and May should ‘go and see the Queen urgently and resign’. Ahead of the vote, May promised MPs that she would not lead at the next election, while Philip Hammond claimed that it would ‘flush out the extremists’.

Row after MPs have whip reinstated prior to vote
The Daily Telegraph claims that a row has broken out after the reinstatement of the Conservative whip to two MPs before the vote of no confidence. The votes of Andrew Griffiths and Charlie Elphicke, each suspended following sex claims against them, are believed to have cancelled each other out, with Griffiths voting for May and Elphicke against. Sam Smethers of the Fawcett Society said the decision was ‘an insult to all women’.

May seeks backstop assurances from EU
The Financial Times reports that Theresa May is now heading to Brussels for a meeting of the European Council, at which she hopes to obtain legal assurances about the Northern Ireland backstop. Draft summit conclusions suggest that the EU will say that the arrangement ‘does not represent a desirable outcome’ and would last only for ‘as long as is strictly necessary’ but officials have resisted calls for the statement to have full legal force.

Javid is Conservative councillors’ favourite to be next leader
The Daily Mail carries the results of a poll by Survation which finds that Sajid Javid is the first choice of Conservative councillors to be the next party leader, followed by Jeremy Hunt and Dominic Raab. By contrast, Boris Johnson only came seventh in the survey, which also found that 67% of councillors thought that it was wrong to call the confidence vote.

Corbyn accuses May of being ‘contemptuous’
The Guardian reports that Jeremy Corbyn used Prime Minister’s Questions to demand that Theresa May’s Brexit deal be put to the vote before Christmas, though he largely avoided the subject of the vote of no confidence. May replied only that the date would be ‘announced in the normal way’, which Corbyn claimed was ‘totally and utterly unacceptable’ and ‘contemptuous of parliament’.

Cabinet could block deal before it reaches Parliament, Fox suggests
The Daily Telegraph reports that International Trade Secretary Liam Fox has claimed that cabinet ministers could prevent Parliament from voting on Theresa May’s Brexit deal unless ‘changes to the backstop’ are agreed. He also suggested that a no-deal Brexit would be more likely unless progress was made on this.

Government increases no-deal recruitment
According to the Financial Times, the Government is increasing its recruitment for a no-deal Brexit, adding 50 new staff to the Cabinet Office’s civil contingency secretariat, which manages major events and responds to civil emergencies, and is playing a leading role in cross-Government planning, which goes by the name of ‘Operation Yellowhammer’.

Universities could be fined if they don’t recruit more white working class students
The Daily Mail reports that Education Secretary Damian Hinds has accused universities of not doing enough to admit disadvantaged groups, especially from provincial white backgrounds, and of not doing enough to support black students, who are more likely to drop out in their first year. Universities who don’t take action could be fined.

Clients of Vuelio Political Services knew Theresa May won the vote as the result was announced.

Today’s political headlines include May abandoning the Brexit vote, May confirming she will not revoke Article 50, Corbyn resisting pressure to hold a vote of no confidence and whips accused of doing too little too late. 

May abandons Brexit vote for further talks on the backstop
As The Times reports, yesterday Theresa May announced that she was deferring the vote on her Brexit deal, admitting she would have lost it by a ‘significant margin’. Instead, the Prime Minister is visiting European leaders in an attempt to secure further ‘reassurances’ about the Northern Ireland backstop. According to diplomats, the EU would be prepared to sign a ‘letter of intent’ promising to work to avoid the backstop coming into use.

May will not revoke Article 50
The Guardian reports that Theresa May has confirmed that she will not revoke Article 50, because doing so ‘would mean going back on the vote of the referendum’. Yesterday, the European Court of Justice ruled that the UK could revoke its notification without needing permission from the EU.

Corbyn resists pressure to hold vote of no confidence
The Financial Times says that Jeremy Corbyn is resisting pressure from Labour MPs, including 38 who signed a letter organised by Ian Murray, and other party leaders, such as Nicola Sturgeon who challenged him on Twitter yesterday, to table a vote of no confidence in Theresa May. The paper suggests this is because it would cause Labour’s ‘fudged’ Brexit policy to unravel, potentially forcing it to back another referendum.

Whips accused of doing ‘too little, too late’
The Times claims that Conservative whips have been accused of doing ‘too little, too late’ to ensure the support of Tory MPs for the deal. According to the paper, some backbenchers weren’t contacted until Saturday to find out how they’d be voting, despite Chief Whip Julian Smith promising to get support for the deal at a Cabinet meeting three weeks ago.

Bercow accuses May of being ‘deeply discourteous’
The Daily Express says that Commons Speaker John Bercow accused Theresa May of being ‘deeply discourteous’ for calling off today’s Brexit vote, suggesting that MPs should get to vote on the postponement although he admitted that it did not need to be put to the vote.

MP grabs mace in protest
The Mirror reports that Labour MP Lloyd Russell-Moyle grabbed the House of Commons mace yesterday in protest at Theresa May’s decision to scrap the planned vote, which he said was ‘disgraceful’. He was then barred from the House for the rest of the day by the Speaker.

Stansted 15 convicted in ‘unprecedented crackdown in the right to protest’
The Guardian reports that the Stansted 15, protesters who took direct action against a deportation flight from the airport, have been convicted of terrorist offences introduced after Lockerbie, the first time these have been used against a non-violent protest. One activist said his conviction was an ‘unprecedented crackdown on the right to protest’.

Speaker could be investigated for bullying ‘within weeks’
According to The Sun, allegations of bullying against Commons Speaker John Bercow could be investigated ‘within weeks’ after the Commons Standards Committee called for a rule blocking the investigation of complaints which are over seven years old without its permission to be abandoned. MPs are expected to approve the change before Christmas, and Tory MP Andrew Bridgen has confirmed that he will then resubmit a complaint.

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Today’s political headlines include millions of patients waiting for more than three weeks for a GP appointment, gambling firms agree whistle-to-whistle ad ban, ITV pulls out of hosting the Brexit debate, and no-deal could mean gridlock for Kent. 

Millions of patients waiting more than three weeks for a GP appointment
The Times reports that five million patients a month are waiting more than three weeks for a GP appointment, according to data released by the NHS for the first time. The figures will pile further pressure on health chiefs to deal with the chronic shortage of GPs. Simon Stevens, head of NHS England, has acknowledged that if the GP system fails the whole NHS will fail as hospitals are pushed beyond capacity.

Gambling firms agree ‘whistle-to-whistle’ television advertising ban
The BBC reports that the Remote Gambling Association (RGA), which includes Bet365, Ladbrokes and Paddy Power, has struck a deal to stop adverts during live sports broadcasts. The ban will include any game that starts prior to the 9pm watershed but ends after that time. Tom Watson MP, Labour’s Shadow Secretary of State for Digital, Culture, Media and Sport said he was ‘delighted’ by the move as the number of adverts during live sports had ‘clearly reached crisis levels’.

ITV pull out of hosting TV debate between May and Corbyn
Sky reports that ITV has withdrawn its proposal to hold a Brexit debate between Theresa May and Jeremy Corbyn. This comes after disagreement between the Conservatives and the Labour Party disagreeing on whether to take up the offer of a debate. The debate proposed by ITV was favoured by Labour, whereas the option put forward by the BBC was favoured by the Conservatives. It is rumoured that the Prime Minister did not want to miss Strictly Come Dancing hence why she was against the ITV proposal. It is also alleged that Jeremy Corbyn was worried about the debate clashing with I’m A Celebrity…Get Me Out of Here!

No-deal Brexit could mean gridlock for Kent
The Guardian gives details of a report by Kent County Council. The report says that a no-deal Brexit would cause chaos across Kent, with gridlock on the roads, no rubbish collected, and children unable to take exams.  It is expected Kent would face some of the harshest consequences of a no-deal due to the Dover-Calais trade route. The council has also said that if this was the outcome then all who would be impacted would be informed.

Rail review could recommend nationalisation
The BBC report on remarks made by Keith Williams, the man conducting a review into the UK railways where he has said that nationalisation is a possible recommendation. Williams said he is independent, so he will consider all options and his job is to come up with the best recommendations. The review will be published in a white paper in the autumn of 2019 and reform will begin in 2020. Williams said what he sees in the “rail system is a loss of public confidence”.

Leave campaigners preparing for second referendum
The Financial Times are reporting that key figures in the Leave campaign are making preparations for a second Brexit vote. In an exclusive, the paper claims Eurosceptic MPs are working with Australian political strategist Lynton Crosby to plan their approach, reflecting the belief that a parliamentary deadlock could lead to a second referendum.

Corbyn calls for support over Brexit
In an article for The Guardian, Labour leader Jeremy Corbyn has urged MPs to reject Theresa May’s Brexit deal in the Commons vote next week, and get behind Labour’s alternative plan. Corbyn again suggested a second referendum may be a possibility, saying that “all options must be on the table” if a general election cannot be forced.

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Today’s political headlines include the Government defeated three times over Brexit, leavers call on May to renegotiate backstop, Brexit notification could be withdrawn and former chief whip to vote against Brexit deal. 

Government defeated three times over Brexit
As The Guardian reports, Theresa May suffered three defeats in Parliament yesterday. A motion finding the Government in contempt of Parliament for not publishing its Brexit legal advice was passed, as was a compromise amendment it had put forward. Then the Government was defeated over an amendment tabled by Conservative backbencher Dominic Green which strengthens the role of Parliament if May’s deal is defeated.

Leavers to call on May to renegotiate backstop
The Times reports that Brexiteers in the Cabinet are to call on Theresa May to return to Brussels to negotiate a unilateral exit from the backstop, despite being told at a meeting yesterday that the EU was not prepared to reopen negotiations. Other members of the Cabinet are reported to prefer the Norway option, although a source told the paper that the soft-Brexiteers were not united.

ECJ Advocate General suggests Brexit notification can be withdrawn unilaterally
As the Financial Times reports, the European Court of Justice’s Advocate General, Manuel Campos Sánchez-Bordona, has issued advice to judges that the UK’s notification that it wishes to leave the EU could be withdrawn unilaterally. While the Advocate General’s opinion is non-binding, it is generally followed in rulings of the court.

Former chief whip to vote against Brexit deal
Mark Harper, the former chief whip, uses an article in The Daily Telegraph to say that he will vote against the Government for the first time in 13 years and reject Theresa May’s Brexit agreement. He warns that the plans ‘threaten the integrity of our country, keep us trapped indefinitely in a customs union and leave us in a weak negotiating position for our future relationship.’

49% of voters think Brexit was a mistake
A poll conducted by YouGov for The Times finds that 49% of voters, the highest level ever recorded, believe that leaving the EU was a mistake, compared to 38% who think it was the right decision. Support for May’s Brexit deal has fallen from 27% to 23% in a week, and the Conservatives’ lead over Labour has narrowed, with the Tories on 40% and Labour on 38%.

Farage exits UKIP
Writing in The Daily Telegraph, Nigel Farage reveals that he has left UKIP, warning that the party was becoming one of ‘street activism’, not ‘elections’, and would be ‘damaged beyond repair’ unless it excluded extremists and leader Gerard Batten ceased association with the EDL founder Tommy Robinson

Carney brands Norway-style Brexit ‘highly undesirable’
The Financial Times reports that Bank of England Governor Mark Carney has claimed that a Norway-style Brexit would be ‘highly undesirable’ as it would leave the UK subject to rules it couldn’t influence which would pose difficulties for financial stability, adding that the risks posed by this would go ‘up over time’.

Home Office criticised by Windrush report
The Guardian carries details of a National Audit Office report looking at the Windrush scandal, which finds that the Home Office is failing ‘to be proactive in identifying people affected’, especially those of non-Caribbean heritage. The department is also criticised for poor-quality data, risky use of targets and poor value for money.

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Today’s political headlines include Brexit adviser warned May against customs backstop, DUP threatens to withdraw support, former attorney general rejects Government’s legal advice position, Labour would table vote of confidence if Commons rejects deal. 

Brexit adviser warned May against customs backstop
The Daily Telegraph reveals that Oliver Robbins, the Prime Minister’s chief Brexit adviser, warned her that the backstop on customs would be a ‘bad outcome’ for the UK, and that an extended transition period would provide a ‘cast iron escape route’ instead. The letter was given to the paper by ‘a concerned minister’.

DUP threatens to withdraw support in confidence vote
The Times says that the DUP has threatened not to support Theresa May in a confidence vote, should the Brexit deal fail to get through the Commons. A source said that the party felt that the Conservatives were not keeping to the terms of the confidence-and-supply deal, by risking creating a sea border between Northern Ireland and the rest of the UK.

Former attorney general rejects Government’s legal advice position
According to The Daily Telegraph, Lord Goldsmith, who served as Attorney General under Tony Blair, has said that the Government’s use of the Iraq War as precedent for keeping its legal advice on Brexit secret is wrong as the Commons never formally requested it. The Government is to publish a legal position statement today, with Attorney General Geoffrey Cox taking question from MPs.

Labour would table vote of confidence if Commons rejects deal
The Guardian says that Labour’s Shadow Brexit Secretary Sir Keir Starmer has indicated that his party would almost certainly try to hold a vote of no confidence in the Government if its Brexit deal is rejected by the Commons. He said that if it couldn’t obtain a general election, it would then ‘press on to other options such as a public vote’, which should not include a no-deal Brexit as this would be too damaging.

Gove warns there’s a ‘real risk’ of another referendum
The Times reports that Environment, Food and Rural Affairs Secretary Michael Gove has warned rebel Conservative MPs that there was a ‘real risk’ of a second referendum if they failed to back Theresa May’s Brexit deal, but did not rule out backing a Norway-style deal is the Commons rejected May’s. The Sun suggests that the Government has considered scrapping the vote on the deal so that May can reopen negotiations, either to extract concessions or to demonstrate that there is no better deal on offer.

Brexit TV debate dispute continues
The Guardian reports on the dispute over the proposed Brexit television debate. Several Conservative Brexiteers have written to the BBC complaining about their exclusion, while Sir Vince Cable, the Lib Dem leader, has made a similar complaint to the BBC, ITV and Sky. Theresa May and Jeremy Corbyn still haven’t agreed on a format or a broadcaster.

Questions raised about Osamor following resignation
The Times reports that Sir Alistair Graham, former head of the Committee on Standards in Public Life, has claimed there are ‘questions about’ Kate Osamor’s ‘suitability to be an MP’. She stepped down as Shadow International Development Secretary at the weekend after the paper reported that she knew about her son’s conviction on drugs offences earlier than had been claimed, and she threatened one of the paper’s journalists, throwing water at him.

Javid and May in low-skilled migration disagreement
In an exclusive, The Sun says that Home Secretary Sajid Javid and Theresa May are arguing about how quickly to restrict low-skilled immigration after Brexit. Javid wants to keep the system as it is for a period, while May favours more immediate restrictions to encourage firms to recruit British workers instead.

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Today’s political headlines include warnings over the UK’s security with a no-deal Brexit, no-deal Brexit to cause worst financial crisis since 1930s, McDonnell claims Labour would inevitably back a second referendum and Leadsom backing Theresa May’s deal. 

Minister warns of no-deal Brexit’s impact on the UK’s security
The BBC reports that Security Minister Ben Wallace is to warn that a no-deal Brexit ‘would have a real impact on our ability to work with our European partners to protect the public’, adding that the Government’s agreement laid the foundations for the broadest security relationship between the EU and another country. However, Diane Abbott, the Shadow Home Secretary, has described the proposed agreement as ‘dangerously flimsy’ and ‘simply unacceptable’.

No-deal Brexit to cause worst financial crisis since 1930s
The Times says that analysis by the Bank of England shows that the UK ‘would be plunged into its deepest recession since the 1930s’ in a no-deal Brexit scenario. In the worst case, house prices would plummet by 30%, interest rates grow to 5.5%, and the economy reduce by 8%. This followed the release of Government analysis which showed that the UK would become worse off under all versions of Brexit.

McDonnell claims that Labour would ‘inevitably’ back a second referendum
The Guardian reports that Shadow Chancellor John McDonnell has said that Labour will ‘inevitably’ back a second referendum if the Government loses a vote on the EU withdrawal agreement, admitting that while the party would prefer a general election, this would be ‘very difficult to do’. Theresa May has claimed that this shows that Labour wants ‘to overturn the will of the British people’.

Leadsom backs Brexit deal
The Daily Mail reveals that Andrea Leadsom, the leader of the House of Commons, has written to constituents to confirm that she is backing Theresa May’s Brexit deal, claiming that it ‘delivered’ on the referendum vote, though she admitted that she still had concerns about the Irish backstop.

NHS plan delayed by Brexit row
According to The Sun, the Government has delayed Monday’s planned release of the NHS’s 10-year plan after internal objections to the Prime Minister’s claim that extra funding could only be guaranteed by backing her Brexit deal. The plan will now be revealed after the vote on the deal, with Government sources claiming that this was because it is not yet complete.

Police defend knocking suspects off mopeds
The Times says that the Metropolitan Police is defending itself after Shadow Home Secretary Diane Abbot criticised its new ‘tactical contact’ technique of knocking suspected criminals off mopeds, claiming that it should ‘not be legal’. Inspector Richard Bern, of Camden police, said that the technique had helped deliver a 90% reduction in moped-enabled theft.

Social media risks creating loneliness, minister warns
The Daily Telegraph reports that Digital Minister Margot James will today tell social media companies that their networks risk making people lonely, by acting as a substitute for meeting face to face, and that they should do more to bring people together in person. She said that the Government’s Online Harms White Paper would ‘ask searching questions about the effect new technology has on mental health and wellbeing’.

MPs want law on rapist fathers changed
The Guardian says that MPs and campaigners are calling for changes to a law which allows rapists to apply for a role in the life of children born as a result of the rape they committed. The campaign, inspired by a case in Rotherham, has been backed by the victims’ commissioner, Lady Newlove, and MPs Louise Haigh and Sarah Champion.

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Today’s political headlines include Trump’s criticism of May’s Brexit deal, MPs want May to set a resignation date and judges to consider if UK can withdraw the Brexit notification. 

Trump criticises May’s Brexit deal
The Daily Telegraph reports that US President Donald Trump has claimed that Theresa May’s Brexit deal means that the UK ‘may not be able to trade with the US’, and that it ‘sounds like a good deal for the EU’. The paper claims that his comments ‘will spark panic in Downing Street’, with Theresa May having hoped that she could promote her deal to world leaders, including Trump, at this weekend’s G20 summit.

MPs want May to set resignation date to secure their support for bill
The Times suggests that some Tory MPs are calling on Theresa May to set a date for her departure if she wants to secure their support for her Brexit deal, allowing them to push for a Canada-style agreement after Brexit. The paper adds that May has established a Whitehall unit, made up of Downing Street advisers, Brexit negotiators and Brexit department civil servants, to work with the chief whip to co-ordinate efforts to sell her deal to MPs.

Judges to consider if UK can withdraw Brexit notification
The BBC reports that the European Court of Justice is to start examining whether the UK can revoke its Article 50 notification that it is leaving the EU, in a challenge brought by a group of Scottish politicians. A ruling is not expected immediately, but those supporting the case believe that if they are successful, it would give MPs an extra option.

Hunt suggests that May should debate Blair
The Daily Telegraph says that Jeremy Hunt, the Foreign Secretary, used yesterday’s Cabinet meeting to suggest that Theresa May should debate senior remainers, such as Tony Blair, rather than Jeremy Corbyn if she wanted to win MPs over to her deal, while Eurosceptic Tory MPs have called for a Leave campaigner, such as Boris Johnson, to take part.

Labour would block People’s Vote from appearing in TV debate
The Guardian claims that the Labour Party would block a representative of the People’s Vote campaign from taking part in the television debate between Theresa May and Jeremy Corbyn, believing that this format would allow the Labour leader to broaden the debate to include issues such as austerity. Formal talks with broadcasters have yet to start.

Research warns May’s deal would hit living standards
The Financial Times carries details of new research by a consortium of academics and thinktanks, which warns that the Prime Minister’s Brexit agreement would hit living standards by up to £2,000 per person a year, with GDP between 1.9% and 5.5% lower by 2030.

Gauke blocks Javid’s knife crime plans
According to the Daily Mail, Justice Secretary David Gauke has blocked Home Secretary Sajid Javid’s plans to introduce ASBO-style ‘knife crime prevention orders’, whose breach could be punishable by imprisonment. Gauke warned they would ‘accelerate the criminalisation’ of young people and questioned their affordability, given the pressures faced by the prison service.

Foodbanks face record demand this Christmas
The Mirror reports that foodbanks will be facing record demand this Christmas due to the five-week delay to the first payment of Universal Credit, with volunteers expecting to serve 1.5m meals. Labour leader Jeremy Corbyn has called on the Government to open ‘its eyes to the misery its causing’.

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Today’s political headlines include May’s fight to save her Brexit plans, the committee telling advertisers to boycott tech giants, Mike Ashley’s demands to give evidence on saving the high street and the CBI’s doubts over Brexit deal.  

May fights to save her Brexit plans
The Guardian claims that Theresa May is fighting to save her Brexit deal on two fronts, following the publication of the text of the political declaration yesterday. Tory backbenchers repeatedly called on her to renegotiate the deal during a debate yesterday, while the EU has warned that no further concessions can be made. The Spanish Prime Minister Pedro Sánchez [pictured] has even claimed that he will ‘veto Brexit’ over Spain’s concerns about Gibraltar.

Advertisers should boycott tech giants, committee says
The Times reports that Parliament’s Intelligence and Security Committee has called for advertisers to boycott tech companies like Facebook and Google unless they demonstrate a serious commitment to tackle terrorist material online, warning that this had been a key contributor to incidents including the Manchester bombing. Dominic Grieve, the committee’s chair, said that firms should follow the example of advertisers such as Unilever.

Mike Ashley demands to give MPs evidence on saving the high street
According to The Guardian, Sports Direct founder Mike Ashley has demanded to give evidence to the Commons Housing, Communities and Local Government Committee on how to save the high street. The committee originally asked for a representative from House of Fraser to speak as part of a panel of four, but Ashley felt that this ‘wouldn’t achieve anything’.

Internal email reveals CBI’s doubts about Brexit deal
An email accidentally sent to ITV News has revealed a difference in opinion within the CBI over Theresa May’s Brexit deal. While the organisation’s Director-General Carolyn Fairbairn has publicly welcomed the deal, while admitting that it is ‘not perfect’, an internal email from the business groups’ head of EU negotiations described it as ‘not a good deal’.

New teams to tackle drugs in prisons
The Sun reports that Justice Secretary David Gauke has announced the creation of new ‘SWAT teams’ in 100 prisons to tackle gangs behind drug-fuelled violence in jails. The teams of specially-trained prison officers will detect drugs, mobile phones and other illicit items, and have already been deployed at eight high-security prisons.

New report criticises smart meter rollout
The Daily Mail carries details of a report by the National Audit Office that warns that plans to install smart meters in every home by 2020 will not succeed, will cost at least £500m more than estimated and the devices may not deliver the cuts to energy bills which were originally promised.

Home Office admits to failings over settlement visas
The Financial Times says that the Home Office has admitted that it wrongly applied rules, leading it to refuse settlement visas to professionals over tax discrepancies. Immigration minister Caroline Nokes said that the findings of the department’s inquiry would be ‘used to inform our future decision-making’.

Farage calls for UKIP leader to be sacked
The Daily Telegraph reports that Nigel Farage has called for Gerard Batten to be sacked as UKIP leader after he appointed the EDL founder Tommy Robinson as an adviser, warning that if UKIP continued heading on its current trajectory, it would be ‘finished’. Robinson is banned from joining UKIP under a rule barring those with EDL links from becoming members.

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Today’s political headlines include May heading to Brussels in an attempt to finalist Brexit, Jacob Rees-Mogg comparing himself to Captain Mainwaring, Growing support for Theresa May and the DUP intending to vote against the Brexit deal. 

May heads to Brussels as EU states raise objections to future relationship agreement
The BBC reports that Theresa May is heading to Brussels today amid attempts to finalise the Brexit deal before European leaders meet on Sunday. A deadline to settle the agreement on the future relationship was missed last night, with EU members raising objections to proposals covering UK access to the single market, fishing rights in British waters, and Gibraltar.

Eurosceptic coup attempt likened to ‘Dad’s Army’
As the Daily Mail reports, Jacob Rees-Mogg has admitted that his attempt to oust Theresa May has become a bit like ‘Dad’s Army’, comparing himself to Captain Mainwaring. He warned that the Tories would be stuck with May as leader at the next election unless they acted now. The Daily Telegraph adds that the ‘old guard’ of Eurosceptics have claimed that Rees-Mogg has exhibited ‘naivety’ and suggested that the focus should be on defeating May’s deal in the meaningful vote.

Growing support for May among voters
A poll conducted for The Times shows that voter support for Theresa May has increased over the last week. A week ago, YouGov found that 33% of voters wanted the Prime Minister to remain and 47% wanted her to leave, but those figures are now 46% and 34% respectively. Detailed analysis shows that May’s support has increased most among Conservative voters.

‘Of course’ we’ll vote against Brexit deal, DUP claims
The Financial Times says that the DUP has announced that it will ‘of course’ vote against Theresa May’s Brexit deal despite hopes by ministers that it would abstain. Last night, the Government accepted Labour and SNP amendments to the Finance Bill after the DUP indicated that it was planning to abstain on the votes.

Tory remainers have ‘role to play’ in building soft Brexit coalition, Sturgeon says
According to The Guardian, Scottish First Minister Nicola Sturgeon has claimed that remain-supporting Conservative MPs have a ‘role to play’ in creating a soft Brexit coalition in the Commons. Apparently, SNP, Labour and Liberal Democrat MPs have been talking with Tory remainers in an attempt to agree an alternative to Theresa May’s Brexit deal, such as Nick Boles’ proposed Norway-style plan.

UK leads successful attempt to block Russian from becoming Interpol President
The Times reports that Kim Jong-yang from South Korea has been elected as the new President of Interpol, defeating the Russian Alexander Prokopchuk, allegedly a former KGB agent. The paper says that the UK and the USA had been leading a last-minute attempt to prevent the Russian candidate from winning. Lib Dem Leader Sir Vince Cable had warned that if Prokopchuk won, Interpol would become a ‘branch of the Russian mafia’.

Mordaunt to announce new focus on low-paid women
The Times reveals that Penny Mordaunt, the Minister for Women and Equalities will use a speech today to announce that the Government will shift its focus away from issues affecting middle class women, including the gender pay gap, towards those affecting women in low-paid jobs, with limited qualifications or who care for relatives.

Labour promises to end compulsory GCSE resits
The Guardian reports that Labour’s Shadow Education Secretary Angela Rayner has announced details of her party’s plan to reform further education, pledging to end the ‘remorseless cycle’ of compulsory GCSE maths and English resits and promising to ‘put learners first’.

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